ASTWOOD BANK made a losing start to the Birmingham League Division Three season as relegated Stratford earned a six-wicket success at the Bank Bowl.
The Panthers won the toss and decided to bowl and it proved a good choice as only Tom Underhill (41 off 49 balls) made a notable contribution among the hosts’ top order.
Andrzej Jagielski (30) and Tom Shepherd (43no) produced breezy knocks towards the end of the innings to help Bank to 207 all out in the 50th over.
Stratford then secured victory in the 37th over as David Bailey impressed with an unbeaten 78 off 83 balls. Ryan Blakemore took two wickets for Bank.
Steve Adshead’s Bank side visit Newport on Saturday.
STUDLEY suffered a second successive defeat at the start of the Warwickshire League Premier Division campaign as they were beaten by 174 runs at Solihull Municipal.
A second-wicket partnership of 100 between Mike Rowley (48) and Tyler Walsh (41) laid the foundations for the hosts’ 260-9 off their 50 overs.
Neelesh Chaturvedi was the pick of the Studley bowlers with 2-24 off ten overs, whilst Luke Deeprose and Greg Moore also claimed two wickets apiece.
However, Studley’s reply was disappointing as only Jack Williams with 34 including seven boundaries made an impression in a total of 86 all out inside 33 overs.
Studley host Coventry outfit Highway Spartans, also with two defeats to their name, on Saturday.
ALVECHURCH & HOPWOOD claimed their first Worcestershire League Division Three victory of the season as they defeated hosts Avoncroft by 51 runs.
The visitors made 255 as opener Adam Markham-Jones (62) and Dan Wolstencroft (67) impressed.
Devavrat Desai (5-52) then became star of the show with the ball for Alvechurch, for whom Christian Battelley and Saurabh Sata took two wickets apiece as the hosts were skittled for 204 in the 47th over.
Unbeaten Alvechurch host Bartestree & Lugwardine on Saturday.
